Cotton-chopper.



No. 766,024. I PATENTBD JULY 26, 1904.

J. J. & T. W. DUNAWAY.

COTTON CHOPPER.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 30, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

FIG.I-

(705m Jflzznamay Wands Wfiawzya Wxtneses Inve torg Htcomegs UNITEDSTATES Patented July 26, 1904..

PATENT Or rcE.

JOHN J. DUNAWVAY AND THOMAS W. DUNAWVAY, OF SALINE, LOUISIANA.

COTTON-CHOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 766,024, dated July 26,1904.

Application filed April 30, 1904.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN J. DUNAWAY and THOMAS WV. DUNAWAY, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Saline, in the parish of Bienville andState of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Cotton-Chopper,ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of agricultural machines which areknown as cottonchoppers, and it has particular reference to that classof cotton-choppers in which a peculiarly-constructed Wheel supports aguiding and carrying frame, said wheel being of such a construction asto engage the row of growing plants, with the effect of destroying allexcept the stands left apart at suitable intervals.

The invention has for its object toprovide a device of the classreferred to which shall possess superior advantages in point ofsimplicity, durability, ease of operation, and general efficiency; andwith these and other ends in view, which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood,the same consists in theimproved construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts,which will be hereinafter fullydescribed, and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferredform of embodiment of the invention, it being understood, however, thatno limitation is made to structural details therein exhibited, but thatthe right is reserved to any changes, alterations, and modifications,especially with regard to size, proportion, and exact manner ofassemblage, as may be resorted to within the scope of the invention andwithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing the eificiency fthesame.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a cotton-chopperconstructed in accordance with the principles of this invention. Fig. 2is apart-sectional side elevation. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional viewtaken through the wheel-carrying axle of the machine. Fig. 4 is aperspective detail view of a portion of the operatingavheel.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by similarnumerals of reference.

The frame of this machine is composed, es-

Serial No. 205,818- (No model.)

sentially, of a pair of side beams 1 1, which are connected near theirfront and rear ends by means of transverse rods 2 2, each of said rodsbeing screw-threaded at both ends thereof and provided with nuts 3 and4:, which abut, respectively, upon the inner and the outer sides of theside beams, which latter are thus made capable of being spaced apart adistance equal to the length of the rods and of being moved in thedirection of each other as far as may be desired.

The side pieces 1 1 are provided with alining slots or openings 5 5,square or non-circular in shape, and which are adapted for the receptionof the corrcspondingly-shaped ends 6 of a shaft or axle 7. The latter isprovided between the side pieces 1 1 with an enlarged portion 8,adjacent to which is a cylindrical neck or portion 9, which isexteriorly threaded for a portion of its length and upon which is fitteda wheel 10. The screwthreaded neck or portion 9 has a nut 11, which maybe tightened in the direction of the wheel, so as to steady the motionof the latter without interfering with the free rotation thereof uponthe shaft or axle. The latter is secured in the slots 5 in the sidepieces 1 by means of set-screws 12, inserted through the upper edges ofsaid side pieces, and which bear against the extended ends of the axle.The latter is of a length which will admit of the side pieces 1 1 beingproperly adjusted and spaced any desired distance apart. The wheel 10 isintended and adapted to travel on top of the row or bed of growingplants in contact with the latter, a portion of which will be destroyedby the crushing action of the tread of the wheel. The latter is providedat suitable distances apart with peripheral recesses 13, whereby theplants are passed over uninjured, so as to form stands. Suitablyconnected with one side of the wheel are a plurality of spring members14, having arms terminating in laterally-extending fingers 16,which restin the recesses 13, as shown. The enlarged portion 8 of the axle isprovided with a forwardly-extending trip-finger 17, which as the wheelrotates over the axle will lie in the path of the spring members 14,which are thereby forced in an outward direction, thus causing thefingers 15 to be moved outward in the recesses 13, which latter arethereby cleared of any dirt which may have adhered thereto prior topassing into engagement With the row of plants, consequently avoidinginjury to the plants which it is intended to leave standing.

At the front ends of the side pieces 1 1 are pivotallymounted straps 18,which are assembled at their front ends by a bolt 19, carrying alap-ring 20 for connection with the draft. Near the rear ends of theside pieces the latter are provided with handles 21, suitably spacedapart and connected by means of rungs 22, which are of such length asnot to interfere with the adjustment of the side pieces and which may beheld in place by means of set-screws or other well-known means. Inconnection with this device we employ two sets or pairs of cultivators,the standards 23 of which are to be suitably connected with the beams 11, said cultivator-standards being placed adjacent to the inner andouter sides of the beams 1 1 and secured in position by means of boltsand nuts. Each pair of stand ards 23 will thus be suitably spaced apart.Said standards carry the earth-engaging elements 25, which serve tocultivate the soil close to the row of plants which has been operatedupon, thereby serving to eradicate weeds and obnoxious growth of allkinds.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawingshereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this device will bereadily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains.As the machine progresses over the field the wheel or disk 10, rotatingupon the axle, will serve to crush or mash all of the growing plantsexcept thosewhich owing to the presence in the periphery ofthe wheel ofthe recess 13 are left standing at suitable intervals. The recesses 13will be cleaned by the action of the spring member 14% and relatedparts, so as to avoid injury to the stands. The cultivators, followingin the Wake of the machine, will stir and agitate the soil, eradicatethe weeds, and promote the successful growth of the plants that are leftstanding.

The side beams of the machine may be adjusted at any desired distancefrom the operating-wheel in order to enable the machine to operatesuccessfully upon rows of plants at various distances apart.

Having thus described our invention, we claim- 1. In a device of theclass described, a pair of side pieces, means for adjustably connectingand spacing the same apart, an axle adjustable in non-circular openingsin said side pieces, an enlargement upon said axle between the sidepieces, a partly screwthreaded neck adjacent to said enlarged portion, aground-engaging operating-Wheel mounted rotatably upon said neck andhaving a peripheral recess, and means upon the cylindrical neck forholding said wheel rotatably in engagement with the enlarged portion ofthe axle.

2. In a device of the class described, a pair of side pieces, means foradjustably connecting and spacing apart said side pieces, an axle havingnon-circular ends extending through and adjustable incorrespondingly-shaped openings in the side pieces, a ground-engagingwheel mounted rotatably upon the axle between the side pieces, saidwheel being provided with peripheral recesses, spring members connectedwith said wheel and having cleaning-fingers disposed in the recesses,and a permanently-supported trip member mounted for engagement with thespring members connected with the Wheel.

3. In a machine of the class described, a ground-engaging,plant-crushing wheel hav ing peripheral recesses, spring membersconnected with said wheel and having cleaningfingers engaging saidrecesses, and means for actuating said spring members.

4. In a device of the class described, a frame comprisingadjustably-conneeted side pieces, a non-revoluble axle, aground-engaging, plant-crushing wheel mounted rotatably upon said axleand provided with peripheral recesses, spring members connected withsaid wheehand having cleaning-fingers disposed in said recesses, andmeans connected with the axle disposed in the path of and serving toactuate the spring members.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have heretoaliixed our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN J. DUNAWAY, THOMAS 1V. DUNAWVAY.

WVitnesses:

R. E. EALEY, IV. MoDonMoN.

